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Safety laws aid 18% drop in construction mishaps: N.Y officials MID-MARKET EXECUTIVE

AIG ratings outlook now stable: Best BROKERS & INSURERS

EEOC actions, enforcement trends focus of report on agency SPECIALTY RISKS

Firing of workers comp judge who brought gun to work upheld on appeal WORKERS COMP

OFF BEAT: 'Naïve' fraudster spared jail in insurance scam BROKERS & INSURERS

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Workers comp insurers face unprofitable future: S&P WORKERS COMP

Employer did not communicate FMLA policy, can't fire worker: Appeals court SPECIALTY RISKS

U.S. commercial insurance rates expected to rise: Marsh BROKERS & INSURERS

Executive liability rising for private, nonprofit firms MID-MARKET EXECUTIVE

N.Y. court affirms $420M Travelers asbestos award BROKERS & INSURERS

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Worker's marijuana use cause of explosion, comp benefits denied: Court WORKERS COMP

U.S. property/casualty pricing in early stages of hard market: Survey BROKERS & INSURERS

Aon moving headquarters to London BROKERS & INSURERS

Reinsurance rating outlook stable, market 'poised' for pricing turn: Best BROKERS & INSURERS

Calif. prevention program has little effect on worker injuries, fatalities: Report WORKERS COMP

Workers comp insurers face unprofitable future: S&P WORKERS COMP

Employer did not communicate FMLA policy, can't fire worker: Appeals court SPECIALTY RISKS

Hannover Re expects 'major loss' from Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster BROKERS & INSURERS

U.S. commercial insurance rates expected to rise: Marsh BROKERS & INSURERS

Employer social media policies should not bar protected worker activity: NLRB SPECIALTY RISKS

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RISK MANAGEMENT

Webinars tackle executive liability, catastrophe, benefits challenges for mid-market firms

Executive liability, natural catastrophes and benefit financing issues can bedevil companies of all sizes. But when disaster strikes, middle-market companies can actually find themselves more prone to devastating losses than large, multibillion-…

Hawaii licenses 10 new captive insurers in 2011

HONOLULU—Hawaii licensed 10 new captive insurance companies in 2011 across a broad range of businesses, the insurance division of the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs announced Thursday.

Milliman launches risk institute for science-based ERM solutions

SEATTLE—Milliman Inc. has formed a risk institute to provide scientific-based thought leadership on enterprise risk management for senior-level executives to help them better manage their risks.

Availability, pricing of coverage main concerns for insurance buyers: Survey

A survey of a global coalition of insurance brokers finds that nearly all believe the top concern facing their clients is the availability and pricing of coverage.

SPECIALTY RISKS

Employer social media policies should not bar protected worker activity: NLRB

WASHINGTON—Employers' social media policies should not prohibit activity protected by federal labor law, but employees' comments generally are not protected if they are mere gripes, the National Labor Relations Board said Wednesday.

EEOC actions, enforcement trends focus of report on agency

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will continue to focus on systemic investigations and litigation, says a report on the agency by law firm Littler Mendelson P.C.

BP fails to shift $15B oil spill costs onto Transocean

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters)—Oil giant BP P.L.C. has lost its attempt to shift over $15 billion of costs related to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill onto contractor Transocean Ltd., increasing the possibility BP may have to foot the entire $42 billion …

Police officer did not prove retaliation, damages overturned: Calif. court

LOS ANGELES—A California appellate court has overturned a $2.1 million jury verdict in a retaliation case brought by a Los Angeles police officer, concluding that the officer did not present evidence substantial enough to prove his claim.

BENEFITS MANAGEMENT

Employers adding automatic enrollment to defined contribution plans: Aon Hewitt

More employers intend to add automatic enrollment features to their 401(k) and other defined contribution plans, according to an Aon Hewitt survey.

Ford pension plan funding drops in 2011

DEARBORN, Mich.—The funded status of Ford Motor Co.'s U.S. pension plans slumped in 2011 as investment returns dropped sharply from the prior year.

Kansas health care system seeks to fund life risks through captive

WASHINGTON—Via Christi Health Inc., a Wichita, Kan.-based health care system, has resubmitted an application seeking Labor Department permission to fund life insurance risks through the U.S. Virgin Islands branch of its Cayman Island…

Raytheon, Lockheed Martin to add billions to pension plans

Raytheon Co. expects to contribute a combined $4.2 billion to its pension plans over the next three years, while Lockheed Martin Corp. foresees a $1.1 billion contribution to its pension trust, according to fourth-quarter earnings statements from …

INSIGHTS & SOLUTIONS

The Business Insurance Risk Management Summit is a unique, invitation-only conference serving the...
Kick off 2012 with expert sessions and speakers on the hottest topics affecting risk managers and...

BROKERS & INSURERS

Zurich estimates Thai flooding losses at up to $250M

ZURICH—Zurich Financial Services Ltd. expects catastrophes to cost it between $200 million and $250 million in the fourth quarter, the insurer announced Thursday.

BLOOMBERG

AIG ratings outlook now stable: Best

OLDWICK, N.J.—A.M. Best Co. Inc. on Friday revised its outlook on American International Group Inc. and AIG's main operating units to stable from negative, saying that AIG's troubles seem largely behind it.

OFF BEAT: 'Naïve' fraudster spared jail in insurance scam

An unemployed tattoo artist didn't realize his Range Rover was under warranty when he handed it over to insurance fraudsters because he assumed he couldn't afford crucial repairs.

Chubb reports 4th-quarter profit decline, OKs $1.2B share buyback

WARREN, N.J. (Reuters)—Chubb Corp. reported a smaller profit for the fourth quarter on higher catastrophe losses and lower investment income, and the property insurer approved a new $1.2 billion share repurchase program.

MID-MARKET EXECUTIVE

Business Insurance In FOCUS video: D&O cover for private firms

In our latest weekly video, we examine the reasons why more private firms and nonprofits are now buying D&O insurance coverage.

Safety laws aid 18% drop in construction mishaps: N.Y officials

NEW YORK—Construction-related accidents in New York dropped 18% in 2011, thanks in large part to new safety laws the city began rolling out four years ago, according to the city's Department of Buildings.

Webinars tackle executive liability, catastrophe, benefits challenges for mid-market firms

Executive liability, natural catastrophes and benefit financing issues can bedevil companies of all sizes. But when disaster strikes, middle-market companies can actually find themselves more prone to devastating losses than large, multibillion-…

Insurance brokerage Dawson Cos. acquired by AssuredPartners

ROCKY RIVER, Ohio—Dawson Cos., a business insurance brokerage based in Rocky River, Ohio, has been acquired by AssuredPartners Inc. of Lake Mary, Fla.

WORKERS COMP

Workers comp insurers face unprofitable future: S&P

Signs point to more unprofitable years ahead for the workers compensation insurance industry, according to a Standard & Poor's Corp. report released Monday.

Firing of workers comp judge who brought gun to work upheld on appeal

PHILADELPHIA—The firing of a workers compensation judge for packing a pistol at work was appropriate, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled in a decision published Wednesday.

OFF BEAT: Tablet computer use could lead to injury risk

Tablet computer users may run the risk of neck and shoulder pain after prolonged use of the devices, a group of scientists said in a newly published, and very small, study.

Discounted Medicaid payment can't be recovered through comp benefits: Court

NEW ORLEANS—Medicaid's discounted medical expense payment for a deceased refinery worker exposed to benzene, “extinguished” the claimant's ability to recover workers compensation benefits from his employer, Louisiana's Supreme…

 

Business Insurance In FOCUS